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Chessie Smile

Giving Thanks, Dog Style

The Family was all here last Thursday. Mama, Dad, James, and a bunch of other people who were related to them. Plus another dog! He didn't like me very much, though. He growled and snapped at me. What the heck! This is my house, you jerk! I just ignored him for the rest of the day. He was no fun anyway. He just wanted to lie there and do nothing.

There were the most wonderful smells coming out of the kitchen all day. Mama was cooking up a storm. There were bowls and plates everywhere. Things bubbled and sizzled on the stove. The oven door opened and closed like 20 times. Every time I crowded in to see what was in there Mama told me BACK! BACK! I guess she didn't want me to burn my nose.

Then everyone sat down and ate all the wonderful smelling food. I stayed in my spot on the rug and watched carefully for any stray crumbles flying through the air. You never know! But no one dropped anything.

I guess it was this big People deal called "Thanksgiving" when everyone gets together and eats a lot of food and then talks about how much food they just ate. Something about remembering something from a long time ago and being thankful for what you have. Or something. People are weird. But I tell you what, I know what I'm thankful for!

-My Family, Mama, Dad, and James
-Darwin and Bouhaki, my kitty friends
-Having a warm place to lie down
-Two meals a day, guaranteed
-Toys!
-Dog treats
-Going for walks
-Playing fetch
-Hunting with Dad
-Ice cubes

I know I'm a lucky dog. There are so many other dogs out there without warm places to sleep or food to eat every day or nice Families to love them. There just aren't enough homes for all those poor doggies. And some people that have doggies aren't very nice to them. I will think good thoughts about all those other dogs who don't have nice lives, hoping they might find good homes someday, and I will be thankful for my Family who has given me a nice life.

People can swim, too?!

Woah. Let me tell you THIS one. It's been really hot here lately. Saturday, Sunday, and boy, especially yesterday. On our morning walks those days I got very hot and Mama was sweating, too. But she always made sure we stopped by the hose in the cemetery to give me a drink. And sprinkle water on my head. Which I didn't mind at all. ANYWAY...Sunday evening Mama took me to Mill Lake for some bumper throwing and swimming. That was fun. Then last night, we went somewhere new called Crooked Lake. THIS TIME, Mama got in the water with me and SWAM. She threw my bumper with a "Mark!" and "Fetch!" and I motored out to it, and when I turned back, THERE WAS MAMA right next to me! I was so surprised I almost let go of the bumper and snuffled water up my nose. Mama cruised along with me all the way to the shore. We stayed there for almost a half hour swmming. It was so much fun. Sometimes Mama would hold me in her arms so I could look around. Sometimes she went under the surface and didn't come up and then she came up far away. Sometimes she made me follow her by holding the bumper and waving it around. I think a couple of times I got too close and scratched her with my paddling feet. Oops. Well, I was getting tired so Mamaand I got our of the water and she dried me off with a towel, boosted me into the Jeepster, and we went home. I can't wait to go swimming again!

Puppy Kindergarten!

So for the last four weeks, I've been going once a week to this thing my people call "Puppy K." First we go for a CAR RIDE. I really like the car ride. Mama opens the windows and there are all kinds of neat smells blowing in my face. Dad sits in the back with me so I don't get lonely.

Puppy K is at this place called the Ann Arbor Dog Training Club. I know this because I've heard Mama say it a few times. When we get to the AADTC, we go to a grassy place where I think I'm supposed to go BATHROOM before going inside, but usually I'm too excited because I know that shortly I'm going to be seeing all my FUN PUPPY FRIENDS!

There's Gus, Zoe, Stella, Maya, Holly, Clifford, Dixie, Jasmine, Womper, and Sophie. Stella, Clifford, and Zoe are Golden Retrivers. Dixie is a Border Collie. Womper and Holly are Chihuahuas. They're so tiny! Sophie is a Boxer. Jasmine is a Wheaten Terrier. Maya is some kind of shepherd-retriever mix. She's got Golden retriever fur but perky shepherd ears. Gus is...well, he's some kind of terrier. He's my best pal. When he came in last night I could hardly stand it. Dad had me laying by his side and when I saw Gus I just got SO excited I kept trying to stand up but Dad was doing "step on the leash" and kept me down. I whined, though. Mama said, "You get to play with Gus later."

So Puppy K is all this listening and sitting, staying, down, walking, coming, stopping, and lots and lots of TREATS. I eat so many treats I'm usually not hungry by the time we get home. I'm also terribly distracted. There are so many wonderful smells all over the floor and of course, all the other puppies. It's really hard to stay focused. I try, though. I'm learning. I am very good at SIT and I'm getting better at STAY and COME.

Mama practices my Puppy K Homework with me at home. I do much better at home than at the AADTC. I can STAY for almost a minute!

Puppy K sure is fun.